Mary Allen
A food allergy in cats can occur very suddenly and unpredictably. The kitty’s favorite food can suddenly become an allergy trigger. If your velvet paw suffers from intolerances, you should consider a few things. It is important that you work with the vet to find out exactly what the cat is allergic to.
Signs of a Food Allergy in Cats
The symptoms of a food allergy can manifest themselves in two different ways: either in the gastrointestinal tract or through the skin. Some velvet paws throw up or have diarrhea after eating something they can’t tolerate. Other cats get itchy rashes and scratches constantly. Even asthma can be a sign of a food allergy in cats. All of these symptoms sometimes appear immediately, but in some cases only days after eating, making it difficult to categorize the allergy.
It can also be food that your cat has eaten for years with no problem. In principle, such allergies arise out of nowhere. Also, they are likely to be heritable. Knowing your kitten’s parents gives you a good chance of anticipation.
Causes of Food Allergies in Cats
A food allergy is usually due to an overreaction of the immune system. Proteins in the feed trigger this overreaction, rarely do other substances such as preservatives or thickeners. The cat then forms antibodies against the actually harmless cat food. The result of a food allergy that has arisen in this way is various reactions in the cat, which cause the symptoms mentioned above. Not all the causes of such an overreaction have been fully elucidated.
Treatment of Feed Intolerance
First, you need to find out what your pet is allergic to. It is best to consult a veterinarian who will support you. It will first prescribe you hypoallergenic food, which you will feed your cat until all signs of an allergy are gone – this can take a few weeks depending on the case. In the hypoallergenic lining, allergenic substances are completely destroyed, so your velvet paw does not react to them. Once all symptoms have subsided, certain protein suppliers are gradually added.
Be sure to follow the vet’s instructions. If your cat has allergy symptoms again, you’ve probably found the culprit. From now on, your cat must avoid the substance to which it is allergic. Since allergies are becoming more common, there are now special foods for many intolerances.